FRIDAY VEGAS-1: IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE DAYS
Sat, 2009-04-04 16:28
It was ugly. There’s just no other way to say it, and it was no one’s
fault. It was just one of those
disastrous days at the races when just
about nothing went the way it should have.
Let’s begin with just trying to get to Las Vegas on Friday. Incoming flights were delayed due to the high winds, and those clinging to their seatmates as their aircraft bounced around like ping pong balls couldn’t help but notice, if they were brave enough to look out the window, that much of the desert floor seemed to be heading east in a massive dust storm. Getting from the airport to fabulous Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another nightmare, as I-15 appears as if it’s being rebuilt one mile at a time – every mile!
It doesn’t rain in Las Vegas. Come on, it just doesn’t – but it did, showering the track with enough moisture to halt the proceedings and set the schedule back not by minutes, but by hours. When the first of two scheduled pro sessions began, more than a few Pro Stock drivers tried to blow the clutches right out of their cars on the starting line, while others fought for control as their machines came whipping out of the shelter provided by the massive grandstands. For those spectators on hand – and there weren’t many of them, take our word for it – every run was a nail biter.
disastrous days at the races when just about nothing went the way it should have.
Let’s begin with just trying to get to Las Vegas on Friday. Incoming flights were delayed due to the high winds, and those clinging to their seatmates as their aircraft bounced around like ping pong balls couldn’t help but notice, if they were brave enough to look out the window, that much of the desert floor seemed to be heading east in a massive dust storm. Getting from the airport to fabulous Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another nightmare, as I-15 appears as if it’s being rebuilt one mile at a time – every mile!
It doesn’t rain in Las Vegas. Come on, it just doesn’t – but it did, showering the track with enough moisture to halt the proceedings and set the schedule back not by minutes, but by hours. When the first of two scheduled pro sessions began, more than a few Pro Stock drivers tried to blow the clutches right out of their cars on the starting line, while others fought for control as their machines came whipping out of the shelter provided by the massive grandstands. For those spectators on hand – and there weren’t many of them, take our word for it – every run was a nail biter.
Brian Thiel opened the proceedings in Funny Car, followed by Bob Bode and Jeff Arend. Bode shot to the top of the list with a career-best 4.145/303.43, and we know – you’re sitting there going “Bob Bode? Bob Bode?” Hey, we said it was one of those days, didn’t we?
Okay, so then the fun really began. Gary Densham came up against Jerry Tolliver in the Canidae dog food car owned by Jim Dunn, and the staging lights in Densham’s lane never came on. He rolled in and out of where the lights should have been two or three times, until starter Rick Stewart finally waved him back, sending Tolliver on a single.
Then poor Jeff Foster of Compulink was placed squarely in the center of a bullseye as it took a few moments short of an hour-and-a-half to replace the Tree and completely re-wire it. NHRA’s Dan Olson told one trackside observer that NHRA does have a spare Tree, but not one that would work with the LVMS electronics configuration. That NHRA should have been prepared for something like this is obvious, but again, maybe it really was just one of those days. Nevertheless, as Foster worked the winds increased, with enough pieces of paper blowing down the track to resemble a ticker tape parade, and the fans just sat, frozen in their seats, trying to get warm by huddling up with their neighbors.
After the Tree was replaced and up and running the remainder of the Funny Car session was completed. Then the fans were treated to a classic Arley Langlo Top Fuel run. Langlo is a photographer’s best friend, because he can be counted on to blow up spectacularly, usually close to the starting line, and he didn’t disappoint in Las Vegas, as you can see.
Langlo oiled the track from stem to stern, and while the Safari gallantly tried to fix things, the winds increased, the blowing paper began to resemble snow, and NHRA wisely pulled the plug on the remainder of the activities.
What will Saturday bring?
We’re expecting locusts, the plague and witches riding brooms.
Arley Langlo didn’t disappoint in terms of his exploding spectacularly, but the trail of oil he left on the track ultimately helped end the day’s racing. And not a moment too soon, either!
Let’s begin with just trying to get to Las Vegas on Friday. Incoming flights were delayed due to the high winds, and those clinging to their seatmates as their aircraft bounced around like ping pong balls couldn’t help but notice, if they were brave enough to look out the window, that much of the desert floor seemed to be heading east in a massive dust storm. Getting from the airport to fabulous Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another nightmare, as I-15 appears as if it’s being rebuilt one mile at a time – every mile!
It doesn’t rain in Las Vegas. Come on, it just doesn’t – but it did, showering the track with enough moisture to halt the proceedings and set the schedule back not by minutes, but by hours. When the first of two scheduled pro sessions began, more than a few Pro Stock drivers tried to blow the clutches right out of their cars on the starting line, while others fought for control as their machines came whipping out of the shelter provided by the massive grandstands. For those spectators on hand – and there weren’t many of them, take our word for it – every run was a nail biter.
The Abbreviated Friday Report From The Summitracing.com Nationals
It was ugly. There’s just no other way to say it, and it was no one’s fault. It was just one of those
It boggles the mind, but nevertheless, Bob Bode was atop the Funny Car
leader board after Friday’s lone session with a 4.145/303.43.
Let’s begin with just trying to get to Las Vegas on Friday. Incoming flights were delayed due to the high winds, and those clinging to their seatmates as their aircraft bounced around like ping pong balls couldn’t help but notice, if they were brave enough to look out the window, that much of the desert floor seemed to be heading east in a massive dust storm. Getting from the airport to fabulous Las Vegas Motor Speedway was another nightmare, as I-15 appears as if it’s being rebuilt one mile at a time – every mile!
The fans – what few there were, huddled up for warmth and tried to brave it through.
Brian Thiel opened the proceedings in Funny Car, followed by Bob Bode and Jeff Arend. Bode shot to the top of the list with a career-best 4.145/303.43, and we know – you’re sitting there going “Bob Bode? Bob Bode?” Hey, we said it was one of those days, didn’t we?
Mike Edwards is on to something, and if he can get his act together
behind the wheel (he’s lost two races on holeshots to drivers he should
have trounced), he’s going to be a championship contender. He came
home in second place after Friday’s one qualifying session.
Greg Anderson had the quickest Pro Stock car on the grounds on Friday,
mustering a 6.718/205.32 to put smiles on the faces of his backers from
Summit.
Then poor Jeff Foster of Compulink was placed squarely in the center of a bullseye as it took a few moments short of an hour-and-a-half to replace the Tree and completely re-wire it. NHRA’s Dan Olson told one trackside observer that NHRA does have a spare Tree, but not one that would work with the LVMS electronics configuration. That NHRA should have been prepared for something like this is obvious, but again, maybe it really was just one of those days. Nevertheless, as Foster worked the winds increased, with enough pieces of paper blowing down the track to resemble a ticker tape parade, and the fans just sat, frozen in their seats, trying to get warm by huddling up with their neighbors.
Poor Jeff Foster had to completely re-wire a new Tree after the original unit went blooey.
As we said, it was ugly.
Ron Capps had the second fastest flopper at The Strip with a credible 4.148 at just under 300 mph.
After the Tree was replaced and up and running the remainder of the Funny Car session was completed. Then the fans were treated to a classic Arley Langlo Top Fuel run. Langlo is a photographer’s best friend, because he can be counted on to blow up spectacularly, usually close to the starting line, and he didn’t disappoint in Las Vegas, as you can see.
Langlo oiled the track from stem to stern, and while the Safari gallantly tried to fix things, the winds increased, the blowing paper began to resemble snow, and NHRA wisely pulled the plug on the remainder of the activities.
What will Saturday bring?
We’re expecting locusts, the plague and witches riding brooms.
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